Apple Watch Series 7 models will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores this Friday, October 15, and ahead of time, reviews have now been shared by media outlets and YouTube channels. In addition to rounding up Apple Watch Series 7 video reviews and unboxings, we've highlighted some impressions from written reviews below.

Apple Watch Series 7 Rainbow Crop Blue
Key features of the Apple Watch Series 7 include larger displays with 41mm and 45mm case sizes, enhanced durability with IP6X-rated dust resistance, and up to 33 percent faster charging with a USB-C fast charging cable included in the box. There are also new aluminum case color options, such as midnight, starlight, and green.

Here are some impressions of the Apple Watch Series 7's key features:

Larger Displays

The Verge's Dieter Bohn said that while the Series 7's larger display sizes are welcomed, it isn't enough to justify an annual upgrade:

When Apple first made the screen bigger way back on the Apple Watch Series 4, I thought it made an appreciable difference in the experience and would even be worth upgrading for. Here, on the Series 7, I just think the screen is really nice and looks better, but isn't enough to justify an upgrade.

The Verge has a well-produced video review as always:


TechCrunch's Brian Heater agreed the larger Series 7 is not a radical departure compared to the Series 6, which came in 40mm and 44mm sizes:

It's not a radical departure, generation over generation. And certainly something like 12% larger buttons on the calculator aren't enough to sell anyone on an upgrade. The truth is that the nature of wearables generally prohibits designers from making too radical a design change because the product needs to fit on your body. The earliest smartwatches suffered from large designs that prohibited wearability among a wide swath of users.

Faster Charging

Engadget's Cherlynn Low said she appreciated the Series 7's faster charging speeds compared to her Apple Watch SE:

[It] charges faster, and in about 10 minutes, I got close to 10 percent capacity. It reached almost 100 percent in under an hour with the new cable that Apple includes in the box. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch SE only got to about 60 percent in an hour.

New Colors

MobileSyrup's Patrick O'Rourke said the Series 7's new green aluminum case option is a nice throwback to the iPhone 11 Pro in Midnight Green:

Green is the standout new hue. It's understated but still eye-catching and, more importantly, is a throwback to the great-looking 'Midnight Green' iPhone 11 colour from a few years ago.

As we previously reported, however, some customers are unhappy with the new Series 7 color options. In particular, for the aluminum models, some customers are disappointed that Apple replaced Silver and Gold with a champagne-like Starlight color.

Final Takeaways

CNET's Lisa Eadicicco feels the Series 7 is an iterative upgrade over the Series 6:

To put it bluntly, the Series 7 doesn't feel like the type of generational upgrade we've come to expect from Apple's smartwatches in years past. But that's not necessarily a snub against it.

The Series 7 feels more like a refined version of a watch we already love -- the Series 6 -- rather than a major upgrade. And since it's the same price as its predecessor, the Series 7 is a promising option for first-time Apple Watch buyers or those upgrading from an older watch.

The Verge's Dieter Bohn agreed:

If you have one of those older Apple Watches, I don't think there's anything here that should compel an upgrade. All the new features are very nice but not necessary. If there is something that's bothering you about your current watch, then by all means go for it if you can afford it. Also, while the Series 3 is still kicking around for cheap, I don’t think it's a great buy anymore. The Apple Watch SE is a better value.

More Reviews

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Top Rated Comments

adamjackson Avatar
52 months ago
This year's review cycle has taught me that I really only want reviewers to compare previous models more than 12 months old. I don't care how the Series 7 compares to Series 6. Tell me why I, a series 3,4,5 owner should upgrade? Same for the iPhones 13. Tell me why the 2-3 year old model will be better suited upgraded.

Only Jason Snell did this in a meaningful way - https://sixcolors.com/post/2021/09/the-iphone-13-an-upgraders-guide/

Because, if I'm being more cynical....of course the series 7 isn't worth upgrading from a series 6. This isn't Apple's target anyway. They want series 3 and 4 owners to upgrade. so what's better from a series 3 to a 7? Can a professional reviewer lay that out?
Score: 54 Votes (Like | Disagree)
contacos Avatar
52 months ago
Skipping that one and waiting for one with additional health features. Does not make much sense to upgrade from my Series 6
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tom.humphrey Avatar
52 months ago
Looking forward to the watch series 8
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chucker23n1 Avatar
52 months ago
"CNET's Lisa Eadicicco feels the Series 7 is an iterative upgrade over the Series 6:"

You don't say.

Apple never claimed this was a massive upgrade, nor does it have to be. Almost nobody upgrades their Apple Watch every year. It's not like the Series 6 is suddenly a bad product.

I'm betting >90% of people looking to buy a Series 7 are either new to the Apple Watch, or are coming from a Series 5, 4, 3, or SE. All of those will find it to be a perfectly fine upgrade.

I don't know why reviewers have such a hard time focusing on what most people care about: how does it compare to my current product? (OK, that's a lie. I know why: because they're sad their shiny new tech toy isn't as shiny and new as they were hoping.)

What people really need is something more like the Six Colors upgrader's guide ('https://sixcolors.com/post/2021/09/the-iphone-13-an-upgraders-guide/'). Unfortunately, while Apple's compare page for the iPhone is pretty good, the one for the Watch is bad.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Shanesan Avatar
52 months ago
As a Series 2 owner, the larger display and faster charging (as well as everything from series 4-6) will be a very welcome upgrade.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
haunebu Avatar
52 months ago
Apple does the bare minimum in 2021, again. Both iPhone and Apple Watch releases are hardly upgrades at all.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 26 Battery Glass Feature

iPhone 16 Pro Max 80% Charge Limit: One Year Later, Was It Worth It?

Wednesday September 24, 2025 3:58 pm PDT by
With the iPhone 15 series, I did an experiment and kept my iPhone's Charge Limit set at 80 percent for an entire year. It provided an interesting look at the impact of charge limits on battery longevity, so I decided to repeat it for the iPhone 16 line. Since September 2024, my iPhone 16 Pro Max has been limited to an 80 percent charge, with no cheating. As of today, my battery's maximum...
Home Hub Command Center with Dome Base Feature

Apple Working on All-New Operating System

Thursday September 25, 2025 1:11 pm PDT by
Apple is developing an all-new operating system codenamed "Charismatic," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple smart home hub concept based on rumors This is likely Apple's long-rumored "homeOS" operating system. In a report last month, Gurman said both Apple's rumored smart home hub in 2026 and tabletop robot in 2027 will run the new operating system. He said the software platform ...
AirPods Pro 3 Newsroom

Apple's 'Back to School' Offer Ends Soon, Now Applies to AirPods Pro 3

Wednesday September 24, 2025 7:20 am PDT by
Apple's annual "Back to School" promotion for students ends soon, so act fast if you want to score free AirPods with the purchase of an eligible new Mac or iPad. Until Tuesday, September 30, college students and qualifying educational staff in the U.S. can receive free AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation when they purchase an eligible new Mac or iPad from Apple. This is a $179 value. ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.1 Update for iPhones Coming Soon — Here's What to Expect

Thursday September 25, 2025 12:40 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions. MacRumors has also seen evidence of iOS 26.0.1 in its visitor logs in recent days. It is likely that iOS 26.0.1 will fix a camera-related bug on the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. In his iPhone Air review, CNN Underscored's...
iPhone 17 Pro Colors

Skipped the iPhone 17 Pro? Here's What is Rumored for iPhone 18 Pro

Tuesday September 23, 2025 8:55 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still a year away, there are already a few rumors about the devices that offer an early look ahead. Below, we have recapped some of the early iPhone 18 Pro rumors so far. This story was published previously, and it has been updated to reflect the latest rumors. Many early rumors prove to be true, but nothing is confirmed yet, and Apple's...
iOS 26

Everything New in iOS 26.1 Beta 1

Monday September 22, 2025 12:44 pm PDT by
Apple released the first beta of iOS 26.1 today, just a week after launching iOS 26. iOS 26.1 mainly adds new languages to Apple Intelligence, but there are a few other features that are worth knowing about. New Apple Intelligence Languages Apple Intelligence is now available in Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, Chinese (Traditional), and Vietnamese. AirPo...
apple tv 4k new orange

Next Apple TV Expected to Launch This Year With These New Features

Monday September 22, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
The next Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Likely Features N1 Chip With Wi-Fi 7 Last year, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the next Apple TV would be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, which is...
Apple More Personal Siri Ad

Apple Responds to U.S. Class Action Lawsuit Over Delayed Siri Features

Friday September 26, 2025 6:57 am PDT by
In March, Apple delayed the launch of its personalized Siri features, and soon after the company was hit with multiple class action lawsuits over the situation. The plaintiffs said they never would have purchased an iPhone 16, or would have paid less, had they known Apple's marketing about the Siri features was false. In the U.S., all of the complaints were consolidated into one class...